State earmarks funds for Capital Region state parks

ALBANY -- Nearly $3 million is earmarked for Saratoga Spa State Park construction projects under more than $11 million announced Friday for the Capital Region.

Plans call for resurfacing park roadways, new picnic shelters and rest rooms, rehabilitating the Roosevelt II Bathhouse, a Hall of Springs upgrade and preparing vacant wings of the Lincoln Baths for adaptive reuse.

Statewide, $90 million will fund projects at more than 50 state parks and historic sites. Also, state parks will start work on 60 architectural and engineering designs for future capital improvements. Plans call for spending $90 million each of the next five years to reduce a backlog of park system needs.

At Moreau Lake, $100,000 is budgeted to rehabilitate a beach bathhouse roof. Plans also call for designing six new cabins in the campground, which generates revenue.

At Peebles Island in Waterford, $3 million will be used to stabilize the historic Bleachery Building for future reuse.

Grafton Lakes is getting $400,000 and $250,000, respectively, for a dam upgrade and to make over a deteriorated beach bathhouse.

Three new projects also will be designed there -- a second dam upgrade, a new nature center and a new campground.

A total of $1.5 million is targeted for the Schodack Island State Park for the construction of a public campground.

Meanwhile, Thacher State Park in Albany County is slated to receive $1.2 million to replace four deteriorated public comfort stations, $300,000 to extend the Tory Cave Trail and $150,000 for viewshed and site restoration.